Ithaca College plans event to list racial climate action steps

Following rallies about the racial climate on campus, Ithaca College will hold an event titled “Addressing Community Action on Racism and Cultural Bias,” which aims to list possible actions about this issue that could be undertaken immediately.

The event will be held at 5 p.m. Oct. 27 in the Athletics and Events Center. The college’s administration announced the event Oct. 23, in conjunction with the leadership of Faculty Council, Staff Council and the Student Government Association.

“The purpose of this meeting will be to list a set of actions that we are identifying as first steps to be undertaken immediately,” the announcement said. “We will seek the feedback of those present on our list of actions as well as on additional actions directed at creating a more inclusive community that values diversity in an environment of mutual respect and inclusion.”

The announcement was signed by President Tom Rochon; Dominick Recckio, president of the SGA; Peter Rothbart, chair of Faculty Council; Sean Reilley, chair of Staff Council; Benjamin Rifkin, provost and vice president of educational affairs; Nancy Pringle, senior vice president and general counsel; Gerald Hector, vice president of finance and administration; Chris Biehn, vice president of institutional advancement and communication; and Gerard Turbide, interim vice president ofenrollment management.

POC at IC posted a statement on its Facebook page Oct. 26: “POC at IC supports and strongly encourages the attendance at Tom Rochon’s address on Tuesday at 5 p.m. in the A&E Center.”

Rothbart said it was important to talk about racial and cultural bias on campus.

“People need to talk together, people need to start talking to each other, not at each other, and that’s what I’m concerned about,” he said. “It’s something that relates to the entire campus.”

Recckio said the meeting would serve as a chance for the people who signed the letter to present a list of actions to the community.

“It’s an address, not a meeting, not a dialogue,” Recckio said. “It’s a chance for actions to be shared, but … this is time to come up with actions as the quote-unquote leaders and then present them to the community.”

Recckio said it was the responsibility of the college’s leaders to come up with ideas.

“It was made clear — with my own yelling in the quad included — it’s time for action, and it’s unreasonable for students of color to have to come up with the actions on their own,” he said.